Improvement in the preparation of artificial leather from scrap leather



UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE.

SOREN SORENSON, OF EBELTOFT, DENMARK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, SOPHUS ORTING, OF SAME PLACE, AND P. J. MCKENZIE ORTING, OF

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE PREPARATION OF ARTIFICIAL LEATHER FROM SCRAP LEATHER, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 103,517, dated May 24, 1870.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SoREN SoRENsoN, of Ebeltoft,-Denmark, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Manufacture of Artificial Leather; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to so treat the scraps and pieces of leather which are generally thrown away as useless by shoemakers and others that a fabric resembling leather in strength, flexibility, and appearance will from such pieces be produced.

The pieces of leather are first ground or reduced to a fine powder, or rather fibrous pulp, for which purpose they are passed through a suitable mill. This fibrous mass is mixed with caoutchouc when the same is in a crude state or dissolved in spirits of turpentine. The mass is well stirred or kneaded until caoutchouc has about the consistency of glue. Then spirits of ammoniac are added and the mixture still more agitated until it forms a thick homogeneous dough. The ammoniac and caoutchouc are used in about equal proportions.

The proportion of leather to the other ingredients can vary in accordance with the uses to which the fabric is to be put, being preferably between fifty to ninety per cent.

The mass, after having arrived at the lastmeutioned state, is compressed in forms or between rollers. The stronger the pressure the more durable will be the fabric. The fabric can be produced in varying thicknesses, as thin as paper or an inch thick.

Although I prefer the use of the spirits of turpentine for dissolving the caoutchouc, I do not confine myself to its use, as I have found that sulphuric ether, warm or cold tar, coal- .oil, and other fluids may be advantageously employed for the same purpose.

I have also found that a good fabric is produced from the leather scraps by treating them with gutta-percha, with tar and sulphur, or with the spirits of ammoniac alone.

The fabric produced by this process is fully equal in strength, toughness, and all other wearing qualities to natural leather, and can be used with safety wherever natural leather is applicable.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent As an article of manufacture, a fabric composed-of ground leather, caoutchouc, and ammoniac, mixed together in the proportions specified and manipulated in the manner set forth.

The above specification of my invention signed by me.

' S. SORENSON.

Vitnesses:

P. O. BERTHELSON, EDUARD BEFFS. 

